Internal Medicine Coding Alert

This ready to go test puts everyone on denial-reducing same page.

Making sure internists, NPs, RNs, front desk, billers, and data entry all understand and are using the new ICD-9 2011 codes is a daunting task. Post the superbill changes outlined in "Make Your Superbill 2011 Compliant Using This Quick Guide" on a bulletin board for everyone to see and then offer this short quiz to drive the changes home.

H1N1 Gains Specificity

Question 1: What new info will you need to correctly assign a diagnosis of H1N1 starting Oct. 1?

Fecal Impaction Has New Options

Question 2: True/False: Encopresis, NOS, fecal impaction is sufficient to have the claim paid without the code (787.6) triggering a denial.

Pain Gets 1 More Symptom

Question 3: ICD-9 2011 provides a new specific pain location:

A. arm

B. breast

C. jaw

D. vagina

H1N1 Gains Specificity

Answer 1: C.

Talking point: The new codes for H1N1 (488.1x) have fifth digits to indicate if the H1N1 involves pneumonia (1), other respiratory manifestations (2), or other manifestations (9) occurring with this type of influenza.

Fecal Impaction Has New Options

Answer 2: False.

Talking point: Fecal impaction is now broken into more detail and requires a fifth digit (787.6x) to indicate full incontinence of feces (0), incomplete defecation (1), fecal smearing (2), or fecal urgency (3).

Pain Gets 1 More Symptom

Answer: C.

Talking point: Jaw pain did not previously have a specific code to use. ICD-9 2011 solves that riddle with 784.92 (Jaw pain).